Manavgat sit. City of Manavgat - shopping and entertainment for holidaymakers in Side. Ancient city of Side

And Side, he is among the three largest cities in the ile (province), by size and population: 76,000 in the city and about 180,000 in the county.

Despite some remoteness from the Mediterranean Sea, the city is of particular interest to tourists: its natural attractions, cheap accommodation, proximity to Side and good road junction.

Reference! The first mentions of Manavgat are found in the historical sources of the Seljuks, who in 1329 founded a settlement called Melass, in a fertile valley near the full-flowing Manavgat River. Initially, it was a small village, but after a hundred years it turned into a small and rapidly developing city. Captured in 1472 Ottoman Empire, at which it reached its greatest development.

To date Manavgat is a prosperous city. Despite his provinciality, he has a number of significant advantages:

high-quality communal and tourist infrastructure;
proximity to the sea;
good transport accessibility.

Let's look at them briefly.

High-quality communal and tourist infrastructure

Unlike most agricultural cities in Turkey, Manavgat is not poor at all and is well-maintained. It affects. Its housing stock consists of 5-6-story buildings, which are grouped in neat square and rectangular blocks.

The streets are wide, clean and green, with fresh and non-gassed air - due to the wide river flowing through the city center. Here you will not find chaotic buildings and garbage.

Of the infrastructure of interest to tourists, there are: hotels of various classes, supermarkets and shopping centers, cafes, restaurants and bars, and even several major natural attractions, which are discussed below.

Proximity to the sea

The Manavgat district includes several seaside resort villages, the distance to which is 5-20 km. You can get to them by taxi or bus in just half an hour or less. This allows budget travelers swim in the sea every day, but at the same time live in cheap local hotels.

Good transport accessibility

The main transport artery of the region runs along the southern outskirts of the city: highway D400. That's why from the bus station in Manavgat you can quickly get to any resort on. For example, the way to Antalya or Alanya along this route will take only 40-60 minutes.

Tours and tours

The largest in the region international Airport Antalya works with direct, interchange and charter flights from many Russian cities. Therefore, getting there is just as easy.

average price a ticket in seasonal time varies from 14,000 to 26,000 rubles.

By bus

The sequence of actions is simple:

at Antalya airport we take the municipal bus number 600. We ride it to final stop, which is called "Otogar" (bus station). The cost of the trip is 4 lira;
in otogar take a ticket for the next flight to Manavgat. Prices vary depending on the type of bus. Large bus - 15-17 lira. Dolmush (minibus) - 10-15 lira.

Travel time from the airport to the bus station is 1.5 hours. From the bus station to the bus station in Manavgat - 1 hour.

REFERENCE! You can also take a seat at the airport tourist bus transport company "Havas", which will take you to the bus station much faster (about 40-60 minutes). It makes few stops along the way and only at the request of passengers. Price - 10 lire.

Taxi and transfer

It is convenient to order taxis and transfers on Kiwitaxi.ru - an online taxi search and booking system individual transfers. From the pros:

fixed cost
meeting with nameplate
24/7 support

A taxi to Manavgat will cost at least $60. Transfer from the hotel can be much cheaper - $ 20-30.

From Manavgat to Side

At the Manavgat bus station, you need to take dolmus to side, which in 15-20 minutes and 5 lira will take you directly to the center of this city. You can also use the services of the above company "Havash" at a price of 10 lire.

How to move around the city?

The main type of public transport in Manavgat is dolmushi. There are also a certain number of heavy buses. Their routes cover all areas of the city, as well as nearby villages. The price of the trip is 2.5-3 lira.

There are also several taxi services here. Their prices are from 2 lira for getting into the car and 2 lira for each kilometer of the trip on the meter.

Weather by months

Popular hotels

Booking.com is the world leader in hotel rentals.
Hotellook.ru - compare prices for hotels in 70 booking agencies

Most of the popular hotels in Manavgat are located near the sea coast in resort villages that are in his district.

Ali Bey Club Manavgat 5* (former Ali Bey Park Manavgat)

« Ali Bay Park Manavgat» is one of the largest hotel complex in the area. It is located on the first line in the central part of the village. Kyzylagach and is a cottage mini-village.

On its territory, where 1-2-storey residential and utility buildings are buried in the greenery of a tropical garden, there are such objects:

3 outdoor pools (including a harbor-style pool with pirate ship, playground and water slides);
spa center with Turkish bath, sauna, rooms for beauty treatments and massages;
own section of the beach;
restaurant and 2 bars;
child development club;
tennis courts and a basketball court.

San Garden Beach 4*

« San garden beach 4*» Turkey, Manavgat, Side- bungalow hotel located in the old area of the resort , next to the amphitheater and the ruins of the ancient city of Side. This is the most successful location among all possible in the Manavgata district.

Instead of residential buildings, there are small one-story houses made of wood or brick, equipped with everything necessary for a long stay.

The hotel also has the following facilities:

1 tropical garden;
1 pool;
sauna, hammam, beauty salon;
1 restaurant and 1 bar;
children's leisure club with Russian-speaking animators;
playground for children;
barbecue facilities in the garden.

Terrace Elite Resort 5*

« Terrace Elite Resort 5*» Turkey, Manavgat Side is a hotel complex located on the second line in the village Gundogdu(10 km west of Side). The hotel is modest, with a small territory and three residential buildings on it, but the prices for all-inclusive holidays are low here.

It offers guests the following facilities and services:

3 swimming pools - the main one for adults, a small one for children and a pool with water slides;
spa, bath, sauna, gym, massage rooms;
1 restaurant operating according to the “ Buffet”, 2 a la carte restaurants;
lobby bar, pool bar, beach bar;
amphitheater for animation events;
children's leisure club;
own beach area 850 meters from the sea.

Beaches

There are 2 dozen beaches in Manavgat district, which are located near various seaside villages. The largest of them: Cholakly, Chenger, we talked about them in detail in separate articles, which you can go to via active links.

Beaches in Side and in the villages to the west of it- with sandy soil cover and bottom. The beaches to the west of it are sandy, pebbly-sandy and pebbly with a different bottom - from sandy to rocky. All of them are good in their own way, but if you settled in Manavgat and do not have enough time to explore each of them, then it is recommended to go swimming to the beaches in the western regions of Side. Getting to them is the easiest.

Attractions

River and waterfall Manavgat

The wide and full-flowing Manavgat River is the main attraction of the city. On either side of it are hills, a city, lush gardens and meadows with agricultural land. It is home to many types of fish, which can be tasted in many local restaurants.

AT 3 km north of the city, on the river there is a small but beautiful waterfall with a park on either side of it.

Waterfall coordinates: 36.814656, 31.451077. The entrance fee to the park is 5 lire.

Koprulu Canyon

Keprulu is national park 44 km southwest of Manavgat, which is organized on the 14 km section of the mountain river Kopryuchay. In this place there is a beautiful canyon: up to 100 meters wide and up to 400 m deep. rocky mountains on both sides of the canyon, forests grow with cypress, pine and eucalyptus trees, and in one of the places a Roman bridge built in the 2nd century AD is thrown over the river. Very picturesque.

This canyon is very popular among lovers of eco-tourism, rafting, trekking and fishing.

REFERENCE! In the Köprülü River, there is a huge river trout, which is the signature dish of local fish restaurants. Avid fishermen can rent a fishing rod and go here overnight.

Coordinates: 37.160492, 31.207285.

Ancient city of Side

5 km southwest of Manavgat is the Side peninsula, where the historical and architectural complex " ancient city of side". On its territory you can look at the huge Roman amphitheater, triumphal arch in honor of Vespasian and Titus, the ruins of the agora, the temple of Apollo, Roman baths and a hospital, as well as a number of other objects.

Coordinates: 36.768156, 31.390177. Entrance - 5 lira.

Popular activities and excursions

Fascinating excursions for vacationers and travelers in 350 cities around the world: Tripster.ru is a service of unusual excursions from local residents and guides who can tell you about the most interesting things in their cities in an interesting and exciting way.

Walk along the Manavgat River

Walk on the ship, boat or motor boat along the Manavgat River, to a waterfall or the sea.

Price - from 5 $.

Rafting on the rivers Manavgat and Kopruchay

Rafting on the Manavgat River is suitable for those who have never been involved in this type of leisure, but would like to try themselves in a simple rafting. The Köprüçay River, with its rapids, sharp turns and fast current, is of interest to extreme sportsmen and experienced rowing and rafting enthusiasts.

Price - from 15 to 45 $ (depending on the river, duration and difficulty of the swim).

Jeep or ATV safaris

Safari is made along the district reserves and mountain roads.

The price of the trip is from $25 for a car and $45 for an ATV.

Trekking in nature reserves

Dozens of trekking routes 1-4 days long have been laid in local mountain reserves.

The cost of the tour varies between $ 30-100.

Excursion to ancient cities

Do you want to plunge headlong into ancient times? In this case, you can visit the ancient city of Side south of Manavgat or the ruins of the ancient city with a tour. Seleucia(Libra) in the north.

The above tours can be ordered from any local tour operator at a price of $10-100.

Pinar Balik Marketim Restaurant- an elite fish restaurant on the banks of the river. It serves the best river trout in the city, sea bass and fried anchovies. 36.781667, 31.450359;
SHIFT GASTRO PUB- gastropub. Craft beer and elite spirits, hot appetizers from European and Turkish cuisine. 36.780778, 31.447246;
"Burger Mood"- burger. According to local residents and tourists - the best in town. 36.777653, 31.446651.
There's also a Burger King here.

Shopping in Manavgat

Shops and malls

The main shopping centers of Manavgat:

« Nova Mall"- a typical suburban shopping mall, which, due to its size, did not fit in the city. Located next to the bus station: 36.781149, 31.425803;
« Manavgat City AVM» - trade Entertainment Center. Located in the central part of Manavgat: 36.786929, 31.441463;
« MM Migros"- a large chain hypermarket. A sort of Turkish Auchan. There are several shops in the city, one of them is in the center: 36.786117, 31.438926.

In the shopping center "Nova Mall" is located large boutique brand LC Waikiki.

Interesting! Clothes and accessories here will cost even less than in Russia. Since this manufacturer is based in Turkey, it does not attach the cost of logistics and customs clearance to the price of the goods. There is also a licensed Adidas store in the same Mall where you can buy sportswear and shoes that are slightly cheaper than in Russia, produced at the brand's factory in Turkey.

Markets and Bazaars

The only market in the city Monday Market Manavgat- Oriental bazaar on Mondays. A wide range of vegetables and fruits, spices, groceries, dried fruits, sweets, household items and cheap clothes.

Coordinates - 36.783110, 31.455953.

If the range of goods local market seems scarce, tourists can go to the bazaar in Side.

Manavgat waterfall - charming corner planets located in the area resort town Side in Turkey. Every year, millions of tourists come here to admire the river mountain streams and take unforgettable pictures against the backdrop of breathtaking landscapes. It is noteworthy that you can visit this tour on your own, saving a lot of money. But for this it is worth knowing in advance how to get to the place and study its infrastructure. You will find all the necessary information about the object below in our article.

General information

The Manavgat waterfall is located on the river of the same name, 4.4 km from the city of Manavgat and 8 km from the ancient resort town of Side, located in the province of Antalya. It is 40 meters wide and 2 meters high. In fact, this is not quite a waterfall, but a stream of mountain waters falling from a large river rapid. But this fact does not detract from the beauty of local landscapes. For a long time, the Manavgat waterfall even flaunted on old Turkish banknotes of 5 lira.

In the immediate vicinity of the river rapids, special viewing platforms from where you can do nice pictures Manavgat waterfall. Going down to the river, and even more so swimming in it, is prohibited here. But during the flood period, rapid river flows rise to the level of observation platforms, and tourists have the opportunity to walk along the icy mountain waters and feel their seething onslaught. The water temperature in this area, even in the hottest months in Turkey, does not exceed 10 degrees.

Previously, entrance to the park with a waterfall was free, but today both tourists and local residents need to pay $ 1.5 to visit the attraction.

The facility operates daily, not only during the high season in Turkey, but also during winter time, and you can visit it from 8:00 to 19:00.

Infrastructure

Around the Manavgat waterfall in Turkey, an equipped green Park, along the neat paths of which it is pleasant to take a leisurely walk and enjoy the juicy landscapes. There are several cafes and restaurants where you can taste the famous Turkish gozleme cakes, try grilled trout, and then, slowly drinking strong and invigorating Turkish black tea, contemplate the local beauties.

There are also shops and souvenir shops huddled near the waterfall, where they sell both standard Turkish souvenirs and handicrafts. As a rule, in Turkey, shops in the immediate vicinity of attractions are overpriced, so we do not recommend spending your time shopping here. But taking a photo against the backdrop of a turquoise stream sparkling in the sun with a parrot on your shoulder will be very exciting. At the entrance to the object there is a large free parking lot, which is convenient for those tourists who get here by rented car.

How to get there

If you are on holiday in Turkey resort town Side, then be sure to include the Manavgat waterfall in your excursion list. To enjoy the natural beauty of the area and walk through the shady flowering park, you will need no more than an hour. How to get to the Manavgat waterfall from Side? This can be done in three ways.

By bus

There are no direct flights from Side to the waterfall, so you can only get here with a transfer in Manavgat. The distance between these cities is just over 5 km, and the travel time takes about 10-15 minutes. You will need to take a dolmush on the Side-Manavgat route. Since this direction is very popular, minibuses drive up to the stop literally every 10 minutes, so you don’t have to languish in the scorching sun for a long time. The fare will be no more than $1 per person.

Upon arrival in Manavgat, we advise you to land on the central city street "Antalya": your landmarks here can be an artificial multi-meter waterfall located in the city center, a large Waikiki store or a bridge over the Manavgat River. Near these facilities you will find stops, some of which are air-conditioned. A bus with a sign “Şelale” (translated from Turkish as “waterfall”) runs along the main street every half an hour, and this is exactly what you need. The fare to the facility will be $1 per passenger.

If upon arrival in the city you are disoriented, then you can always clarify where and how to get to the Manavgat waterfall from the driver of any dolmush or from numerous tourists walking around the city environs.

The easiest and most comfortable way to get from Side to the waterfall is a taxi. The cost of such a trip can range from $ 12-15, which, of course, more expensive than travel on the public transport but more convenient and faster. Many taxis in Turkey in Side are designed for 7 people, so if you reach the waterfall full car passengers, this option will be quite profitable. Well, do not forget to bargain if you do not have the opportunity to familiarize yourself with the fixed price list, and you feel that the price tag is clearly too high.

By rented car

Renting a car in Turkey is not difficult. You can do this at the airport, at the hotel, at the offices in Side and Manavgat. The cost of a daily rental of a budget car is $25-30. This option would be logical if you plan to visit several attractions in the Side area in a day. But before you get behind the wheel, it should be borne in mind that Turkey has its own unofficial laws on the roads, which often contradict the established rules. traffic. Therefore, it is important to study in advance the specifics of the behavior of motorists on the road in resort areas.

Compare accommodation prices using this form

If you were fascinated by the photo of the Manavgat waterfall in Turkey, and you decided to definitely visit this attraction, you should take into account a few nuances so that your tour does not become a bitter experience.

Go to the waterfall on your own. If you are relaxing in the Side area, then visiting the sights on your own will not be a problem for you. Above, we have already described the ways to get to the object and provided all the prices, so you just have to clarify the location of the Manavgat waterfall on the map and, in fact, hit the road. Your guide will definitely offer you this excursion route, but, firstly, the cost of a tour with an agency will be several times more expensive than even a taxi ride to the waterfall. And secondly, most time you will be taken to shopping centers in the hope that you will buy some unnecessary goods at an exorbitant price, from which the guide will receive his coveted percentage. As a result, you will spend the whole day on an excursion, which, if you visit on your own, will take you 2-3 hours on the strength.

Go on a tour early in the morning. AT high season in Turkey, the Manavgat waterfall is literally teeming with tourists. Crowds of people fill the viewing platforms so tightly that sometimes it is not even possible to make a decent shot. Usually, sightseeing buses they begin to drive up to the parking lot by 11.00, so we recommend visiting the waterfall from 8.00 to 10.00, when the flow of visitors is not yet so strong. The ideal time to get acquainted with the attraction is the period from October to April: during these months there are practically no tourists here, and you can enjoy the local beauties in a relaxed atmosphere.
Pay with Turkish Lira. It is most advantageous to pay for public transport and entrance tickets to the Manavgat waterfall in local currency. You can exchange dollars or euros for lira in the exchangers of Side and Manavgat (the latter rate is always better).

Find out the RATES or book any accommodation using this form

On the one hand, the Manavgat River, every season overflowing with water flowing from the overhanging snows of Toroslar, which subsequently flows into the Mediterranean Sea, as well as the ancient city of Side, which has a thousand-year history and rich civilization, on the other hand, tourist sites that include the civilization of today. .

These very features are the key point that makes Manavgat and Side stand out as the richest tourist center. Manavgat and Side have everything to have a great vacation. They cannot be separated from each other.

And if divided, then where to draw the border? Previously, Side was a small village inside Manavgat. Per last years with the development of tourism, Side also grew in parallel with this and became separate. Now, after rapid development, Manavgat and Side have become two separate parts of the same city. The border of Manavgat starts from Colakli after the division of Selge-Tashagil.

Colakli, in turn, also received his share from tourism. On the coast of Colakli, very high-quality hotels operate and serve today. Along Cholakly, Ylysy, Kumkoy, Selimiye, Side, Sorgun, Titreyengol and Kyzylagach, hotels and holiday villages stretch one after another.

Whatever object you rest here, good memories and wonderful impressions of tourist centers The Mediterranean Sea will not leave you for a long time. What will you see and meet there? We will write about them...

Side

Side has the appearance of a small town located on an incongruous peninsula of the sea. Side was founded by the Cumelians, formed by Aiol, located in the north of Izmir. According to the study, the history of the city presumably stretches back to the 7th century. Side means pomegranate in translation. Pomegranate during the Roman Empire was printed in the city on money.

The heyday of Side refers to the 1st and 2nd century BC, when there were very good relations with the Roman Empire. This period lasts until the middle of the 3rd millennium AD.

The most beautiful buildings available today in the city were built during the Roman Empire.

In the 4th millennium, the borders of Side narrowed and it became impoverished, only by the end of the 5th millennium the city began to revive after being transformed into a religious center.

The last resettlement to the city was carried out by the Turkish settlers, coming from Girit in 1895 to the peninsula (here today is a port and a bazaar). To date, all resettlements have closed in on Side. This closure can even be observed in photographs taken from above.

Journey through the ancient city

The city can be entered through the main city doors between its Well-preserved walls. Doors, which in the old days were called very beautiful, today have a crumbling look. The avenue starts from the main doors.

The avenue stretches to the Agora and the theater, it is one of two beautiful avenues stretching from the main door. In principle, he has retained his unusual beauty to this day. Another of the avenues is covered with grass.

On the left side of the avenue you can see the remains of the Byzantine basilica. The old bathhouse on the right side of the avenue, not reaching the Agora, was turned into a bathhouse after restoration. This museum exhibits ancient monuments relating to the period of the Roman Empire. As we approach the Theater, we see the remains of the agora on the left side. Today, only the foundation remains, around which shops are located, fenced with columns, which turned it into a very beautiful building.

In addition to all this, this place is also the place where the pirates held an auction. From the sea side of the Agora, there is the state agora of Side. The courtyard is used for the bazaar, and the remaining parts of the hall are fenced with columns and monuments. We return to the Theatre. At the entrance to the Theatre, which is the most ancient building, the remains of a spring catches the eye. The spring has been restored.

The remains of the Theater date back to the 2nd century AD. The stage part reserved for 15,000 people is in a collapsed position.

The theater, in turn, was also used for gladiator fights during the Roman Empire. The annals say that the theater in the 5th-6th centuries AD. was turned into an open-topped church. On the edge of the road near the Theater is the holy temple of Dionysus, inherent in early period Roman Empire. The columns in front of the temple were brought from Egypt.

The avenue with columns, stretching from the front door to the Theater, it turns out stretched to the port itself. Another part of the avenue remained under the bazaar. If we walk along the avenue to the port, we will see two temples located side by side. One of them was built in honor of Apollo, and the other in honor of Artemis. In the monastery dedicated to Apollo, 6 columns have been restored. (These columns can be seen in all the photographs associated with Side). In front of the temples there is a Byzantine basilica.

Side Museum

At the entrance on the right side, where, after restoration, the remains of the old bathhouse are turned into a museum, such objects and substances as monuments, architectural parts, descriptions, columns, kandili, a bottle of tears, which were found during excavations since 1940, are exhibited. Special exhibition materials in the museum are the monuments to Nike, Heracles, Hermes, the monument to the Three Beauties, wall monuments marking the birth of Zeus and the punishment of Ixion, as well as a pedestal with Eros.

Sorgun

After Side we go to east side. The road in front of travel agency after a while it turns into a wide wooded area. This place is called Sorgun. On the sea side of this wooded area there is a holiday village, 5,4,3 star hotels and camping facilities.

In the forests of Sorgun there are paths for walking. You can even ride a horse here. In the vicinity of Sorgun, there are various horse farms that provide horseback riding training, horse rental for a walk. The sandy area in the middle between Side and Sorgun is open to everyone. Picnic areas and restaurants with gardens can be found along the road between Side and Sorgun.

Titreengol

If we drive from Sorgun to the east, after a certain period of time we will meet the most popular recreation center of Side. Titreyengol is located on the seafront in the middle of trees with numerous objects. In fact, Titreengol is not a lake. The Manavgat River expanded before flowing into the sea, and thus the slowing down of the water flow formed a lake. And since the wind shakes the water, this lake was called Titreyengol (Shaking Water). Not densely growing spruce trees grow around it.

Manavgat

Since there is a strong revival of tourist sites around Side and Sorgun, Manavgat has remained a bit in the shadows. There are also hotels in Manavgat, but they are more of a boarding type. Despite everything, Manavgat with its bazaars, restaurants, banks is developing rapidly. It will be possible to ride a boat on the Manavgat River. The Manavgat River divides Manavgat into two parts. Boats on the river can be used during the day from Manavgat to the waterfall and the strait. This takes approximately 3-4 hours per day. In these same boats, designed for 30-150 people, there are services for the provision of food. And there is no end to entertainment programs. Here live music alternates with dances of dancers and dancers. At the point where the river flows into the sea, a break is announced. Those who wish can swim both in the sea and in the river. The river water is very cold. Ideal for cooling. There are even those who cook barbecue and serve vacationers on a boat.

Pursuit of the flow of water from Manavgat to the dam itself BIG AND SMALL WATERFALL, ANTIQUE CITY OF SELEUKIA, MANAVGAT DAM, OIMAPYNAR DAM AND RESERVOIR Manavgat Waterfall (Large and small waterfalls) Manavgata in the north forms a waterfall with a very good view. The surroundings of the waterfall are very beautifully landscaped with canals and fences. You can watch how the branches and roots of trees extend into the water, trees growing in the water, and while sitting in restaurants you can listen to the sound of water, in addition to all this, there are also terraces for observing nature and gardens for drinking tea. In the hot summer weather, accompanied by the coolness of the water and the sound of the waterfall, you can dine big waterfall, 2 km. from Manavgat the road splits into a small waterfall.

After 1 km. from the road you will meet the Small waterfall. Unlike the large waterfall, the small waterfall merges into a small hill and its surroundings are also turned into places for entertainment. Here also reigns natural beauty, the sounds of the waterfall are a little quieter, and under this magical sound of water, the Small Waterfall Restaurant, gardens for drinking tea provide their services.

Seleukia

We continue to follow the path passing near the Manavgat waterfall and going north to the Oimapinar and Manavgat dams. After a while, you will be able to see the remains of a historical arch near the stream, which merges into the Manavgat River. A very well-preserved arch, probably during the Roman Empire was used to carry water from the Manavgat River in Side. (you can also see the remains of ancient water channels between Manavgat and Side). We continue to follow. Approximately 3 km. (after Manavgat 8.2 km.) On the left side there is a table of directions Budzhaksheikhler and Seleukia. And after about 3.5 km. we reach the entrance to the ancient city of Seleucia. The city itself is not something special. But at the same time, the location of the city is very beautiful.

Passing through a very dense Pine forest we go out into the city where the remains are located on a very wide area and look in the direction of the Manavgat plain. In clear weather from here you can clearly see, along with the Manavgat Valley and Side, Sorgun and Titreyengol.

If you get tired of the monotony of the events held in the hotel and in recreation areas, then come to Seleukia, where you can have a great time under the howl of pine trees, as well as under the inviting sound of water.

Among the remains that you can see here are a bathhouse, an agora inside which there are shops, and right next to the agora there is a very well-preserved temple. But don't go too far, as it's very easy to get lost here.

Manavgat Dam

(15 km from Manavgat) You will meet a sign with the inscription Manavgat dam immediately on the right side of the Manavgat-Oymapynar road. After turning after 3 km. there is the Manavgat dam and a reservoir immediately behind it. There are approximately 10 restaurants in the vicinity of the dam, as well as picnic areas. On the lake you can fish for carp. It is forbidden to fish in May-July, and therefore carp fish in restaurants can be tasted at any other time of this period. And trout and other kebabs can be eaten at any time.

Walk to the Oymapinar dam and reservoir (8 km from Manavgat) The road passing through the village of Oymapynar after a while leads to the entrance to the Oymapynar dam. For security purposes, you must leave your ID at the entrance. After the entrance doors, the road is immediately distributed to the left and right. If you follow the left road, it will lead you to the front of the dam, and if you follow the right road, it will lead you to the top of the dam. It is very interesting and exciting to walk on the dam whose height is 180m.

On one side there is a 180 m high cliff, and on the other side there is a reservoir whose depth exceeds 100 m, the body of which converts potential energy into electricity. Man, watching all this loses his mind. You yourself can feel how everything freezes inside you after everything you see.

In order to bypass the reservoir, located in the middle of greenery, it will be possible to drive through the dam by car. Follow the dirt road. And after about 3 km. you will reach the Green Restaurant. Here you can both eat something and drink something refreshing. If you manage to arrive here before 11 o'clock, be sure to take part in a tour of the lake, which is organized by the owners of restaurants. During this tour, the boat swims into a canyon that is over 100 meters long. End this exhilarating boat trip with trout cooked on a tile. Rustic bread is served with trout.

Aetenna

31 km. in the north of Manavgat, where Syrtkoe is located at the foot of the mountain, there is Etenna, whose history goes back to the period of Helenistics. From Etenna you can see the blue mediterranean sea. And also see side from a bird's eye view. Here are also the remains of the Roman bath of the Acropolis, the Basilica, graves, reservoirs, ramparts and agora. The inhabitants of the village of Syrtkoy still use the water that goes inside the ancient bath. It will be possible to drive to Etenna by turning left immediately after the Noras bridge, which is over the road going from Manavgat to Shelal.

Ibrady and trout valley

After the Oymapınar reservoir, the road leads to Ibrady to the left. In this beautiful area between the hummocks there is the so-called trout valley. In order to get to the trout valley, it is preferable to choose not an earthen road, but an asphalt one, even if it is a little longer. You will have to pass through Akseki to Jevisli. Trout Valley is 7 km away. from Jevisley. One of the main springs of the Manavgat River is located in the trout valley. This valley is just for those who like to walk on green grass and in general who love nature in the truest sense of the word. There used to be a lot of trout here. After improper fishing, their number has decreased. The local waterway this moment used for irrigation purposes in agriculture. The farm also has a restaurant.

Practical Suggestions

Story

The city center of Side was built on the basis of the ancient city of Side. The city is a historical value. When traveling through ancient city be sure to see the theater, the temple of Apollo, the museum of Side, the agora. In the evening, take a stroll through the bazaar. You will meet very a large number of bars where you can sit and drink both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, restaurants, make purchases. End your evening in the center historic city, at the disco in Kumkoy and Titreengol.

Beaches

With the exception of the port of Side, you can buy everywhere. In the west, between Side and Colakli, the entire coast is 30 km. consists of sandy beaches. In the eastern part, the sands last until the very point where the Manavgat River flows into the sea.

boat trip

The boats provided for the trip sail from Manavgat along the Manavgat River to the sea. Be sure to take part in these boat trips, where there is both music and dancers with dancers, as well as well-prepared meals with breaks for bathing. Traveling during the day and walking around the area Be sure to go to the Manavgat waterfall. This waterfall is the most attractive in the area. And if you have enough time, then make a tour covering both the Manavgat reservoir and the Oymapynar dam. Among other things, there are places listed below where you can travel both with a guide and on your own. Aspendos-Selge- Canyon with bridge- Perge Alara Khan, Alanya Termessos

Phaselis-Olympos Rafting

Take part in rafting from the city center of Side or from your hotel in Koprucay. You can also get your own money to Kopruchay and take part in rafting organized there. It is advisable to finish rafting before the evening. Since each rafting distance takes 3 hours at least.

Horse riding

In the vicinity of Side and Titreyengol, horseback riding services are provided. Go and take part in these rides on horseback. Or get horseback riding lessons.

We go to the cash registers, because attraction is promoted, then the entrance is paid:

See how Selale is written? Here is the same inscription and look for on minibuses:

Entrance, by the way, is not so expensive - only 5 lira:

2. Walk through the territory of the park and the waterfall

In fact, cheap entry is compensated huge amount shops and cafes located in the park:

Solid cafes, you definitely can’t find any privacy here:

Apparently, someone has already tried to jump into the waterfall, so I had to put up a warning in all major languages:

The territory of the park is small, but you can take a walk - opposite the largest threshold of the Manavgat River, observation platforms are installed at different levels:

In some places, water splashes right onto these sites, and the water, by the way, is cold - about 10 degrees, so I definitely wouldn’t want to swim there, but many people go into the water to take better pictures:

What people don't go to for a selfie :)

The whole territory is cafes, bridges and beautiful views rivers:

There is so much water, and the stream is so stormy that it seems like a couple of minutes more and everything will be flooded:

Apparently, from time to time the water level in the river decreases, otherwise why would these posters be right in the water?

Pay attention, there are some walls under the water to the left, everything is flooded:

And this is not some kind of raft, but an ordinary cafe - I would be uncomfortable there, just look - it will be blown away by a stormy stream of water:

On the left is the same cafe in the distance, and on the right is the main view of the Manavgat waterfall:

You can only go into the water barefoot, otherwise the shoes can be carried away (by the way, we just saw someone floating flip flops in the water):

There are a lot of people, and not only tourists, but also locals love to visit this place. There was a Turkish woman in the minibus, who was sitting next to me when she found out that we were going to a waterfall. I started admiringly telling what a wonderful place this is and how we will like it :)

Do you want a photo with a parrot?

And below everything gets wet:

Manavgat is a small Turkish town located 3 kilometers from the Mediterranean coast.

Its agglomeration includes, located on the coast. Side can be called a suburb of Manavgat, since there is no separation between them, they smoothly flow into one another. Therefore, if you are going to relax in Side, then visiting Manavgat will be very simple.

Minibuses run between Side and the center of Manavgat, the fare is 3 lira (45 rubles), it takes about 10 minutes to go. Minibuses in Side you just need to catch on one of the central streets, as a rule, the word Manavgat is written on it. In Manavgat, it is better to get off at the beginning of the street with shops, at this stop everyone usually gets off. You can go back from Manavgat to Side by minibuses from the stop in front of the LC Waikiki store. If you wish, you can even walk from Side to Manavgat - it's about 4-5 kilometers.

On the interactive map all the places mentioned in this article are marked below: minibus stops, Manavgat waterfall, a clothing market, a street with shops, cafes and exchangers, LC Waikiki clothing stores, Nova Mall shopping center, Migros supermarkets, Lunapark and a place where a delicious doner.

Manavgat is a typical Turkish village

The city of Manavgat with a population of about 80 thousand people is a completely typical low-rise Turkish town, quite quiet, modern and pleasant for walking. The city consists of 4-5-storey buildings, on the roofs of which solar panels and barrels for heating hot water by the sun.

All buildings in the city look quite new, as if the whole city appeared at once 15 years ago. Date palms grow along the roads in Manavgat, from which huge ripening clusters of dates hang spectacularly.

Central street of the city

Clusters of dates on a palm tree

The name "Manavgat" is most often pronounced by Russian-speaking tourists as Managaft or Manavgaft. Apparently the famous name of the actor Gaft is consonant with the name of the city. At first we also said that, and in order to remember the correct name of the city, we voiced it in the English manner: Man of God, which reads “man of gad” and translates as “man of god”. After that, the correct pronunciation of the name of the city was remembered, acquired meaning and sparkled with new colors.

Shopping in Manavgat - branded stores, market and shopping center Nova Mall

The city center is very well maintained main street Antalya Caddesi and lapels from it, on which there are shops, cafes, restaurants,. There are large branded clothing stores, such as LC Waikiki, as well as small specialized shops and shops with spices, soap, towels, linens, ceramics, clothes, bags, sweets, souvenirs and much more, all that Turkey is rich in. There is also a large indoor clothing market.

Turks bake bread on the street in Manavgat

In the market you can buy knives and sickles

Manavgat has a large shopping center Nova Mall, which is located on the edge of the city, just in the place where Manavgat smoothly flows into Side.

Near the shopping center Nova Mall stands a beautiful monument with a large-scale fountain and statues of Greek gods. The architecture of the shopping center building also shows the style ancient greece. And the mall itself is quite ordinary - a Migros supermarket, many Turkish clothing and footwear stores, H&M, KFC, Starbucks, etc. Perhaps the monument to the Greek gods is the best thing this shopping center can boast of.

Shopping center Nova Mall in Manavgat

We arrived in Turkey and ended up on the days of the celebration of the Eid al-Adha holiday, which was from September 1-4 in 2017. Manavgat was empty these days, most of the establishments on the streets were closed, including banks, currency exchange offices, shops, cafes, etc.

But still, not all the shops were closed and we didn’t stay hungry either, but I must say that this is not best time for shopping. So, if you are going to Turkey, choose travel dates outside of Eid al-Adha. In 2018, it falls on August 21-24, in 2019 on August 11-14, and in 2020 from July 30 to August 2.

Fountain-waterfall in the city center

On the mountain in the center of Manavgat there is a giant waterfall fountain, probably once it worked and it was a truly epic sight - water from a 15-meter height fell down concrete boulders. But in the fall of 2017, the waterfall fountain did not work, and judging by the photos on the Internet, it has not been working for a long time.

However, this place deserves attention. On the mountain, on which the fountain-waterfall is located, you can climb the stairs and see the city from a height, there are gazebos at the top where you can relax in the shade and enjoy a beautiful view of the city and the mountains behind it.

Fountain-waterfall on a mountain in the city center

View from the fountain-waterfall mountain to Manavgat View of the roofs of Manavgat from the top of the fountain-waterfall

Embankment of the Manavgat River

The river of the same name, Manavgat, flows through the center of the city. It is pleasant to walk along the river, it is especially beautiful there in the morning, when the water is illuminated by the sun and has an unusual emerald color, just a feast for the eyes.

There are several pedestrian bridges across the Manavgat River, and between the bridges along the river there is an embankment with cafes, parks and monuments. You can travel along the river on one of the many boats, the owners of which offer their services.

Ducks and ships on the Manavgat river

This is the exit to pier number 3

Amazing emerald color of the water of the Manavgat River

Cafe on the river embankment

Ship near the bridge over the river

Sculpture on the Manavgat embankment

Pedestrian bridge across the river

Manavgat waterfall - how to get there, cost

The most famous tourist attraction of Manavgat is the Manavgat waterfall, which is located 3 kilometers from the city upstream of the river. Previously, he was even depicted on the Turkish banknote of 5 lira, issued from 1968 to 1983. The waterfall was created artificially, but still a wide stream of water falling from a small height looks very beautiful. It is also best to visit it in the morning, when the water in the river has a particularly emerald color.

You can get to the Manavgat waterfall in 10 minutes by minibus from any stop on Hastane Caddesi street, which starts just at the fountain-waterfall in the city center. The fare is 2.5 lira (38 rubles). In Turkish, the place where the Manavgat waterfall is located is called "Manavgat Selalesi". If you don’t remember the name in Turkish, then you can directly ask the driver of the minibus in Russian: “Waterfall?” and he will tell you if he is going there or show you where to take the minibus to the waterfall. Minibus drivers, of course, do not speak Russian, but they know this word.

Manavgat waterfall A Turk carves woodwork near the Manavgat waterfall

The place near the waterfall is small, but pleasant. The cost of visiting is 5 liras (75 rubles) per person, it works from 8 to 19 seven days a week. Our stay at the waterfall took only 20 minutes, we walked around the territory, looked at the waterfall and took pictures. The place is very touristy, excursions are brought here by bus, so there are many souvenir shops, cafes and restaurants where you can have a bite or a hearty lunch. But still, I would recommend eating in Manavgat itself, it is both tastier and cheaper.

Edible cactus fruits for tourists

Souvenir shop near the Manavgat waterfall

Doners in Manavgat

There are many places to eat in the city. In places where only locals eat, it always tastes better than in those that are oriented towards tourists. One has only to move away from the main street for a couple of blocks and you can find a place where the food will be excellent and the prices are 2 times lower.

The national Turkish dish is doner, in our opinion, shawarma or shawarma, in tourist places happens with chicken or lamb. In places where the locals eat - only with chicken. Unlike Russia, you will not find a vegetarian doner there. In my opinion, Turkish doner is tastier than shawarma in Russia, as it is made from different bread, without mayonnaise and with spices.

The best doner on this trip we tried in Manavgat, in such a slightly remote place from the center called "07 Berat Döner", which is located near the intersection of Hastane Caddesi and Selale Caddesi streets.

There were no tourists except us, but there were enough local Turks and it was clear that they go there regularly. This is a good sign, as the Turks understand a good doner. A woman was in charge of the shtetl and she was assisted in her work by 2 sons of adolescence. One boy was engaged in meat, he cut it, chopped it into small pieces and fried it again. The second boy worked on delivery. And the woman made doners, using absolutely original bread and spices. It was excellent lunch!

Elevated crossing across the road with an inoperative escalator